Can-opener.



No. 780,212. PATENTED JAN.` 17, 1905.

T. T. MERRIMAN.

GAN OPENER.

APPLIUATION ILISD APE. 29.1904.

n flzbomamj@ Patented. January 17, 1905.

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THOMAS T. MERRIMAN, OF MEDFORD, OREGON.

GAIN-OPENER..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,212, dated January 1'7, 1905. l Application filed April 29, 1904. Serial No. 205,540.

.To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that l', THOMAS T. MERRIMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in can-openers; and the essential feature of the invention resides in the provision of an implement of this class which may be so cheaply manufactured as to admit of vending same with canned articles.

In its preferred construction the can-opener is made from a single length of wire bent to form a puncturing-prong and cutting-blade, the point and blade being carried by a shank provided with a handle and being made from the single length of wire above mentioned.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a canopener made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

As before premised and referring' to the specific structure embodied in the drawings, the implement comprises a shank l, a handle 2, a puncturing-prong 3, and a cutting-blade fi. The several parts l, 2, 3, and 4L are formed by bending a single length of wire suitably and in a manner which will now be described. The shank l of the implement is provided at one end with the handle 2, which comprises a looped wire from which the device is made, and the end of the wire adjacent the handle 2 is coiled about the shank, as shown at 5, to rigidly reinforce the handle, so as to increase the general substantiality of the article. After the end of the wire has been coiled about the shank l, as shown at 5, this end is projected downwardly from the shank and sharpened to form the cutting-blade 6. This cutting'- blade projects at about right angles to the shank l and is adapted to cut the can in the use of the implement. A peculiar form of prong by which the can is initially punctured also constitutes a special feature of my invention, and in the formation of this prong the end of the shank opposite to that adjacent which the handle 2 is located is bent or curved. rearwardly, as indicated at 7, downwardly, at indicated at 8, and forwardly, as indicated at 9. The downwardly-bent portion 9 of the prong 3 is provided with the point which is designed to pierce the can preparatory to the operation of the implement in removing the top thereof. The construction of the prong 3 prevents any liability of slipping' of the prong after the latter has pierced the top of the can preparatory to the cutting operation.

In actual use to remove the top of a can or like receptacle the implement is lirstoperated so as to cause the prong to pierce the central portion of the top of the can. The

prong having been introduced into the opening thus formed, the handle of the implement is moved downwardly to cause the blade Li to cut into the top, and by a pivotal movement of the implement the said top may be entirely or partially severed in a manner readily appreciated. lNhen the blade 4C has cut into the top of the can, the prong cannot be displaced because of this peculiar form,and, further, is not likely to slip in the rotary movement of the shank and handle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isw 1. A can-opener comprising a shank, a handle carried by said shank, a cutting-blade, and a prong' disposed at one end of the shank and formed by bending the said end rearwardly, downwardly and. forwardly, the forwardlybent portion of the prong being' pointed.

2. A can-opener comprising a single length of wire consisting of a shank, the shank being In testimony whereof I afxrny signature in bent at one end to form a prong, the other presence of two witnesses. end portion of the shank being looped to forni a handle, and the extremity of the looped por- 5 tion of the shank being coiled about the shank lVtnesses:

and projected downwardly and sharpened to C. C. RAGSDALE, form a cutting-blade. M. PURDIN.

THOMAS T. MERRIMAN. [n s.) 

